Episode #139: Weekly News Roundup for June 8, 2012

In "This Week in the DoD" for June 8: Next Thursday, June 14th, marks the U.S. Army's 237th Birthday. Military communities from around the world are celebrating the day, with events including cake-cutting ceremonies, commemorative speeches, parades, concerts, and festivals. Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Martin Dempsey travelled to Southeast Asia this week for bi-lateral and multi-lateral meetings with defense officials in the region. Secretary Panetta announced an agreement between the U.S. and Vietnam that will help the U.S. find and identify remains of service members declared missing in action during the Vietnam War. In Singapore at the Shangri-La dialogue, Panetta said the U.S. military will reposition itself to focus on security issues in the Asia-Pacific region, including a reposturing of the Navy's presence. The secretary then moved on to Afghanistan to assess the situation there as troops prepare to draw down. After Gen. Dempsey returned from his travels in the Philippines, Thailand, and the summit in Singapore, the Chairman laid out the military's plan for increased engagement in Asia. The U.S. Air Force has broken new ground by promoting former Lt. Gen. Janet Wolfenbarger to be the first female Four Star General. In 1942 in the Pacific Ocean near a small atoll known as Midway, the U.S. Navy delivered a decisive blow against the Japanese Fleet, turning the tide against Japan. Two years later, nearly 170,000 troops stormed the beaches of Normandy in what became known as D-Day. Both of these events happened more than 70 years ago this week and ceremonies were held throughout the week to commemorate those historic events.